B’nai B’rith members and supporters from across the United States and the world gathered in Washington, D.C., Nov. 16 to 18 to celebrate and reflect on 170 years as an organization, as well as to examine pressing issues facing the global Jewish community, Israel and the United States.

B’nai B’rith hosted speakers E.J. Dionne, Jr., journalist and political commentator; Ira Forman, U.S. State Department special envoy for monitoring and combating anti-Semitism; and David Cohen, U.S. Treasury Department under secretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, among other speakers...more.

by Ralph AmelanNovelist Howard Jacobson looked relaxed, urbane, plainly enjoying himself. But his appearance belied a decidedly explosive energy evident in the flow of his conversation.

He had come to Israel for the first time in many years to give the B’nai B’rith World Center’s Jerusalem Address, following in the footsteps of such luminaries as Bernard Lewis, Abba Eban and Shlomo Avineri...more.

by Maureen Shamee In a joint interview last week with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Israel’s Channel 2 news and Palestine TV, Kerry predicted a ‘’nightmare scenario’’ if current peace talks break down. “The alternative to getting back to the talks is the potential of chaos,” he said.

‘’Does Israel want a third intifada?” he asked. “I believe that if we do not resolve the issues between Palestinians and Israelis, if we do not find a way to find peace, there will be an increasing isolation of Israel, there will be an increasing campaign of the de-legitimization of Israel that has been taking place on an international basis,” he added.

“The Secretary introduced views that can only complicate the process. It would be more productive to exhort the parties to work toward compromise, rather than speculating on worst-case scenarios,” said Daniel Mariaschin, B’nai B’rith International executive Vice President...more.

The mayor of Beit Shemesh is facing blowback from American Jewish groups after calling gays a health problem that needs to be “taken care of.”

“There are no gays in my city, thank God,” Beit Shemesh Mayor Moshe Abutbul told Channel 10 News earlier this week, referring to gays as unholy and impure... Jewish and pro-Israel groups in the United States are uniformly supportive of equal rights initiatives for gays, often highlighting shared democratic values between the two nations. B’nai B’rith International, currently fighting for a law on Capitol Hill that will prevent discrimination against gays and lesbians in the workplace, characterized itself as “a staunch supporter of equality and tolerance” this week...more.

Brighton-based B'nai B'rith Housing formally broke ground last week on The Coolidge at Sudbury, an apartment complex for active seniors and older adults.

The new development at 189 Boston Post Road in Sudbury includes 64 apartment units in an elevator building with surface parking. The planned development will include amenities such as a meeting room, library, fitness center and outdoor patios on the east and west sides. A property management office will be located on site...more.

Jewish groups organized relief efforts following Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines, one of the most powerful storms ever recorded. Authorities said it is possible that more than 10,000 people died from the storm.

The American Jewish Committee and B’nai B’rith International are both contributing to Israeli relief organization IsraAID for humanitarian efforts to assist the victims of Typhoon Haiyan.

“It’s hard to even imagine the widespread devastation they’re experiencing in the Philippines. Each disaster has its own unique challenges and this one will truly be a giant undertaking,” B’nai B’rith President Allan J. Jacobs said in a statement...more.

Top American Jewish leaders had harsh words Sunday for U.S. Secretary of State, John Kerry, and the Obama administration. Their comments came after recent remarks made by Kerry on Israeli-Palestinian Authority peace talks, and after the U.S. allegedly came within a hair’s breadth of signing a deal with Iran that would relieve sanctions on the country while allowing it to maintain its nuclear capability.

Kerry’s controversial comments were made in a joint interview with Israel’s Channel 2 news and Palestine TV. He predicted a nightmare scenario in the event that the current talks break down.Visibly agitated, Kerry berated Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, saying, “The alternative to getting back to the talks is the potential of chaos.”

“The Secretary introduced views that can only complicate the process. It would be more productive to exhort the parties to work toward compromise, rather than speculating on worst-case scenarios,” said Daniel Mariaschin, B’nai B’rith International executive vice president...more.

‘The Coolidge at Sudbury is located at 189 Boston Post Road (Route 20) in Sudbury.

A breakfast reception at 9:30 was followed by a short speaking program that included B’nai B’rith Housing Executive Director Susan Gittelman; Aaron Gornstein, Undersecretary for Housing and Community Development of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts; Barbara Fields, Regional Administrator of U.S. Housing and Urban Development; Massachusetts State Sen. Jamie Eldridge, Cochair of the Joint Committee on Housing; Thomas R. Gleason, Executive Director of MassHousing; John Drobinsky, Chairman of the Sudbury Board of Selectmen; Larry O’Brien, Former Chair of the Sudbury Board of Selectmen; Marvin Siflinger, President of the Board of B’nai B’rith Housing; and Robert Gallery, Massachusetts President of Bank of America Merrill Lynch...more.